Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
Devanagari script
यथा दंष्ट्राच्युतः सर्पो नागो वा मदवर्जितः । आज्ञाहीनस्तथा राजा मानवैः परिभूयते
Transliteration
yathā daṃṣṭrācyutaḥ sarpo nāgo vā madavarjitaḥ | ājñāhīnastathā rājā mānavaiḥ paribhūyate
Translation
ดุจงูที่เขี้ยวหลุด หรือช้างที่ไร้กำลังมัททะ ย่อมถูกเมินเฉยฉันใด พระราชาผู้ไร้อำนาจบัญชาก็ถูกมนุษย์ดูหมิ่นฉันนั้น
Word by Word
यथाjust as
यथा:
Upamāna-marker
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)
दंष्ट्राby/with the fangs
दंष्ट्रा:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्
च्युतःfallen off/removed
च्युतः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Root√च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
सर्पःa snake
सर्पः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
नागःan elephant
नागः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनाग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
वाor
वा:
Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Disjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)
मदवर्जितःdevoid of rut/intoxication
मदवर्जितः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootमद-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मदेन वर्जितः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (devoid of rut/intoxication)
आज्ञाहीनःlacking authority/command
आज्ञाहीनः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootआज्ञा-हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; आज्ञया हीनः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः
तथाso/likewise
तथा:
Upamāna-correlative
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; तथैव/एवमेव (so/likewise)
राजाa king
राजा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
मानवैःby men/people
मानवैः:
Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमानव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्
परिभूयतेis overpowered/treated with contempt
परिभूयते:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-√भू (धातु)
Formलट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense: is overpowered/insulted)
Speaker
Dūta (contextual; proverbial admonition)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Didactic tableau: a fangless snake recoils harmlessly; a great elephant without must stands subdued; in the background, a king without insignia of authority is ignored by commoners—visualizing the simile.
Characters & Entities
R
Rājā (King)FAQs
Rājadharma requires effective authority; without rightful command, social order collapses and the ruler is dishonored.
No site is named; the verse offers a dharmic-political maxim within the chapter’s narrative.
None.